by Gary Craig, Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat & Chronicle

by Gary Craig, Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat & Chronicle

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Mendeecees Harris, one of the stars of the popular VH1 Love & Hip Hop reality show, was released on $600,000 bail Monday while his girlfriend, hip hop talent manager Yandy Smith, agreed in federal court to be responsible for $200,000 of her boyfriend's bond package.

With VH1 cameras waiting outside of federal court Monday, as Love & Hip Hop NY films for its next season, U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci Jr. agreed to release Harris from the Yates County Jail, where he has been held.

Harris, 35, is accused of a role in a New York City-based drug ring that included his brother, Tyrus Harris, and another man, Ronald Walker. Tyrus Harris pleaded guilty before Geraci Monday, and Walker pleaded guilty last year.

The drug ring transported cocaine to the Rochester region, federal authorities allege. Tyrus Harris faces a sentence of about five to seven years, under federal sentencing recommendations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Sherman and Mendeecees Harris' lawyer, Donald Thompson, said in court Monday that they've been working toward a resolution with the case. The bail agreement, Sherman said, is expected to be substantial enough to ensure Harris returns for future court dates.

Smith, who is engaged to Harris and who is one of the bigger stars of the show, said after court that she has no worries about the $200,000 pledge.

"Mendeecees is a very good guy," said Smith, who was once on the list of Billboard Magazine's Top 30 Executives under 30.

Part of the focus of last season's episodes was the detention of Harris as he awaited trial. Hip hop blogs were rife with inaccurate information, claiming he'd been released and was cooperating with police.

Instead, he has been jailed since January 2013.

Harris and Smith have a 20-month old-son, and she is also raising a son of his from a previous relationship.

"The hardest part is just watching the kids growing up without him," she said of the past year.